On the day when Chasetown skipper Chris Slater equalled a club record 535 total appearances, the Scholars extended their winning run to three games and remained ahead of Leek Town in the play-off positions on goal difference.

In a one-sided first half, the home side took a 15th minute lead when George Washbourne advanced unchallenged and drilled a low shot past the diving Jack Steggles into the bottom left hand corner.

In a bizarre incident, Carlton briefly thought they had been reduced to ten men as Referee Mr Pearson showed a red card to defender Jacob Sturgess, quickly realising his error to produce a yellow card instead!

Just after the half hour, Paul Sullivan set up Nick Turton and he drove goalwards, forcing Steggles into a top save high to his right to safety.

Chasetown doubled their lead five minutes before half time. Sullivan chipped up a cross to James Dance who netted from close range.

Simon Brown was a whisker away from a third goal in the closing stages of the half but Steggles raced out bravely at the midfielder’s feet to deny him.
The visitors had created virtually nothing, to untroubled stand-in goalkeeper Curtis Pond who was in for the injured John Bateman.

In fact, it took them until the 65th minute to register their first serious shot – Romaine Graham going close with a near post flick, denied by a strong hand from Pond, making his first league appearance of the season.

Chasetown created fewer chances after the interval with Rhys Thompson from a free kick and Stan Mugisha forcing fairly routines from Steggles.

Five minutes from time, Dan Gordon tried his luck from long range and Pond stretched out a left hand to palm the ball away from the goal – Pond’s first clean sheet for Chasetown in a league game.

With Leek winning 4-1, the Staffordshire rivals are separated by one goal in race for fifth, with Leek having two games in hand.

Chasetown: Pond, Williams, Thompson, Slater, Francis, Brown, Washbourne, Dance, Turton, Sullivan (Mugisha, HT), J Davies (Robinson, 77 mins)

Other subs: Haynes, Bateman (not used)